Steam iron with self-cleaning valve assembly



Dec. 22, 1964 A- SWENSON 3,161,971

STEAM IRON WITH SELF-CLEANING VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig.

[/7 Vendor:

Dec. 22, 1964 SWENSON 3,161,971

STEAM IRON WITH SELF-CLEANING VALVE ASSEMBLY Filed Sept 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 5.

[Ewe/7 tor.- fl/z ra 6 5109/7800.

///;s' Adv/05y United States Patent 3,161,971 STEAM IRQN WITH SELF-CLEANWG VALVE ASSEMBLY Alfred G. Swenson, Ontario, (Jaiifi, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Sept. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 22490 11 Claims. (Cl. 38-77) This invention relates to steam irons provided with a water reservoir from which water is fed into a suitable steam generating chamber, and more specifically relates to a self-cleaning valve assembly for control of liquid flow from the reservoir into the steam generator.

One of the perennial problems in the development and manufacture of steam irons of the type having a steam generator and a vmve controlling the flow of water from the tank into the generator is to devise such an iron that will continue to operate satisfactorily on tap water over long periods of time. Since most tap water contains considerable mineral matter, the small orifice through which water flows into the steam gene-rating chamber will invariably become clogged after sustained usage. A variety of filters including screens and other arrangements have provided partial answers to this problem; however, quite frequently the filter element itself will eventually become so coated with deposits that water flow is severely limited or completely blocked.

It is an object or" the present invention to provide a unique self-cleaning filter and valve arrangement for filtering the flow of water from a supply tank to a steam generator in a flatiron.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved valve and screen assembly for a steam iron wherein the screen is cleaned each time the valve is actuated.

In accordance with this invention, a coiled compression spring biases a valve stem which cooperates with a valve orifice to control the passage of water from a steam iron water supply tank into a steam generating chamber. The spring is situated adjacent the valve orifice in such a manner that water must pass between the coils of the spring to reach the valve orifice. The spacing between adjacent turns of the spring is preferably no greater than the diameter of the orifice so that effective filtering action is obtained. Axial movement of the valve stem in one direction causes further compression of the spring, which action crushes and dislodges any deposits which may have formed between adjacent turns of the spring. In this manner, there is provided an effective screen which is cleaned each time the valve is actuated. By combining the operation of the screen with the valve, the number of parts required is minimized. The valve stem may be provided with a clean-out pin which cooperates with the valve orifice for additional cleaning action. Also an apertured spring guide may be positioned adjacent the spring so that together the guide and the spring form a screen.

Further features, objects, and advantages of this invention will become apparent with reference to the following drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of a fiatiron embodying this invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a self-cleaning screen exemplary of a feature of the invention; and

FIGS. 3-6 are elevational views, partially in section of four diderent embodiments of this invention.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIG. 1 there is shown an iron provided with a soleplate 1 to which is secured a cover 2 and operating handle 3. In accordance with conventional practice, soleplate 1 may be cast from a material such as aluminum with an electrical heating element cast in position. This heating element preferably is of the sheathed type in which the electrical resistance element 4 extends through an outer tubular protective sheath 5, with the heating element separated from the outer sheath by an electrical insulating compound resistant to heat, such as a mass 6 of granulated and compressed magnesium oxide. In the usual manner, the heating element extends in a loop commencing at the rear of the iron and along one side to the forward or pointed end of the iron, and thence rearwardly along the other side. Thus, a substantially uniform heat distribution is provided, especially when an aluminum sole-plate is employed.

This iron includes means for generating vapor under pressure. While typically an iron such as this may be used to convert water into steam, obviously other liquids may be employed. While other means are available for generating or supplying steam to the iron, it is preferred to employ a steam generator capable of rapid conversion of Water or other liquid into steam as it flows at a restricted rate from the reservoir into the generator. For this purpose, solepate l is provided with a steam generating cavity 7. Liquid discharged through orifice 8 of a steam control valve body 9 is converted into steam on contact with the walls of cavity 7. To prevent accumulation of an execess of liquid in cavity 7 or flooding, orifice 8 is restricted thereby to limit the rate at which liquid flows into the cavity to a rate which can be promptly vaporized by the heating capacity of the iron. The steam so generated is confined and directed over the heated upper surface of the soleplate by means of a cover plate assembly 18 secured to the soleplate by a plurality of suitable fastening devices, one of which is shown at 11. The cover plate assembly may include a cast cover plate 12 extending over steam generating cavity 7 in a substantial portion of the area of the upper surface of the soleplate. Secured to the upper surface of the cover plate 12 is a steam dome 13, preferably formed from a material which is a relatively poor conductor of heat, such as stainless steel. Steam dome 13 is secured to the cover plate in any suitablefashion to provide a vaportight seal. In the present instance, a flange 14 on the dome is received in an annular groove formed in the cover plate by upwardly extending lugs 15 of the cover plate.

A liquid supply tank or reservoir 16 appropriately formed of corrosion-resistant metal with sealed joints is housed within the iron in the space under cover 2 and overlies the soleplate and cover assembly. The lower wall 16a of the tank is provided with an enlarged aperture adapted to receive the upper portion of steam dome; 13, with a sealing gasket 17 being provided at the junction for a fluid-tight connection. A cylindrical member 18 surrounds the steam dome and extends upwardly in the tank in through an aperture in the top of the tank to serve as a battle and support member. Since member 18 surrounds valve body 9, it is, of course, essential that the member be apertured to a limited degree to permit liquid to flow from the surrounding tank into the area encompassed by the member.

During the operation of the iron as a steam iron, water flows from the tank 16 through orifice 3 in valve body 9 into the steam generating cavity 7 at a limited rate. All of the liquid flowing into the cavity is promptly converted to steam which then rises upwardly through a pressure balancing tube 19 supported on the upper wall of steam dome 13. If the liquid reservoir is operating at a lower temperature than the steam temperature, some of the steam may be condensed into the liquid tending, of course, to decrease the steam pressure. Support member 18 serves as a battle to restrict circulation of liquid and steam Within the reservoir, especially in the area occupied by the pressure balance tube and a spray mechanism presently to be described. A pressure valve is supported by steam dome 13 and extends downwardy to an opening formed in the cover 12. When a certain minimum pressure in the area of cavity 7 and cover plate 12 is reached, the valve will open, permitting steam to flow through the opening and through passages defined by the cover to a plurality of outlets in soleplate 1, one of said outlets being shown at 21 in the drawing. Any suitable pressure regulator valve designed to open at a particular pressure may be employed for this purpose. Further details of such a valve may be seen in Patent No. 3,041,757 issued jointly to me and Harold S. Foster and assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of this invention.

The iron shown incorporating this invention may also be provided with a spray mechanism. For this purpose, a spray head assembly shown generally at 25 in FIG. 1 is placed in steam communication with a riser 26, which is in turn connected to the upper wall of tank 16. The spray head assembly terminates in a nozzle controlled by a valve cap 26, which is operated by a manual spray button 27. A water tube 28 has one end positioned near the bottom wall of tank 16, and its other end (not shown) terminates near the nozzle in the spray head assembly 25. When the valve cap 26 is moved away from the nozzle by'means of control button 27, steam fiows out the n02 zle. This steam mixes with water, discharging at the spray nozzle from water tube 23, resulting in a fine spray directed toward the material to be pressed immediately in front of soleplate 1. 'For a more detailed description of the spray head assembly, references may be made to the aforementioned Patent No. 3,041,757.

It is desirable that the iron of FIG. 1 be also operable as a dry iron. Therefore, means are provided for controlling whether or not steam is generated within the iron. As illustrated by FIG. 1, this means comprises a valve stem assembly cooperable with valve body 9. A valve stem 34, having aclean-out pin 35 for orifice 8 on the lower end thereof, cooperates with valve body 9 to control liquid flow through orifice 8 from the tank to the flash steam generator. Valve stem 34 extends upwardly through the top wall of the tank and terminates in a push button 36, which is provided with a latching shoulder 39 engageable with an internal projection on the handle 3.

One of the problems that has plagued the use of steam irons is the formation of mineral deposits from tap water which is commonly used in steam irons. Mineral deposits tend to collect around the orifice leading to the flash steam generator, such as orifice 8 in FIG. 1. Unless frequently cleaned, the orifice will eventually become clogged so that the iron is inoperative as a steaming device. Also, insoluble flakes of hard water deposit precipitate out on the walls of cavity 7, such as flakes of calcium carbonates and sulphates. In practice, it is found that such flakes tend to be blown up through pressure balance tube 19 with steam; or such particles pass from cavity '7 into the reservoir through tube 19 when the iron is inverted to empty liquid therefrom. The use of the clean-out pin 35 has partially solved this problem, in that every time the iron is switched to dry operation clean-out pin 35 is forced through the orifice 8. However, it has been found that it is also necessary to provide some screen or filtering arrangement to prevent particles or flakes which have thus formed and collected in the tank from clogging the orifice. One such arrangement has been to utilize a screen surrounding the orifice, but eventually a screen will also become clogged by precipitation thereon of insoluble mineral deposits. The present invention provides a solution to this problem by utilizing a self-cleaning screen arrangement. Further, this arrangement is uniquely combined with. the valve stem 34 so that a minimum number of parts are required.

The screen assembly includes a coiled compression spring as, which is shown surrounding valve stem 3 The spring preferably is confined within a cylindrical guide 41. The lower end of the guide 41 is positioned within the upper end of valve body 9 in concentric relation with the orifice 8. Within the upper end of the spring guide 41, there is positioned a valve stem guide 42 for guiding the movement of valve stem 34. The compression spring 40 cooperates with the valve stem guide 42 to bias the valve stem 34 upwardly into the valve open position. To close the valve orifice 8, the push button 36 is depressed downwardly against the resistance of spring 49 so that the valve stem 34 closes orifice 8.

In accordance with the invention, the coils of compression spring 49 are normally axially spaced from each other so that water is permitted to fiow between the coils. In general, the spacing between adjacent turns of the spring when it is extended should not exceed appreciably the diameter of orifice 8. Thus, any flakes or particles too large to pass through the orifice will be screened or filtered out by spring 4%. As seen in FIG. 2, the spring guide 41 is provided with a plurality of elongated openings or slots 43 which extend in a direction parallel to the axis of the guide and spring and substantially perpendicular to the individual coils of spring 46, so that together the spring and the guide effectively form a screen which filters the water flowing through the orifice 8 when the iron is being operated as a steam iron.

Guide :1 also serves the important function of preventing lateral deflection of spring 40. If spring 4%) were allowed to deflect transversely, there would no longer be uniform spacing between adjacent turns.

When water is flowing through the screen, mineral deposits and other sediment tend to form on the screen, clogging the openings therethrough. In accordance with this invention, this material is crushed and removed upon depression of push button 36 to move valve stem 34 downwardly. The axial movement of the valve stem causes relative movement between the coils of the spring which effectively dislodges and crushes any material formed therein, and similarly the material collecting between the spring and the guide 41 is also loosened and broken into small particles. The particles small enough to pass through the screen will either pass through the orifice 8 or can be removed by the clean-out pin 35. The larger particles which do not pass through the screen will drop harmlessly to the floor of the reservoir surrounding the guide 41.

The spring guide d1 is preferably made of stainless steel; and to minimize manufacturing costs, it may be formed as a stamped plate and rolled into its cylindrical shape. As seen in FIG. 2, the space 43a, which is formed by the edges of the plate, serves as another aperture through which water may flow. More importantly, the space permits greater manufacturing tolerances in the formation of a spring guide and facilitates assembly operations. The spring 46, which is also preferably made of stainless steel, is positioned immediately within the spring guide and extends substantially throughout the entire length of the guide. The spring is retained in this position by a plurality of lugs, one of which is shown at 44, on the lower end of the spring guide. These lugs are deformed inwardly about the lower coil of the spring after the spring is installed within the guide. Following this, the flanged end of valve stem guide 42 is placed within the upper end of the guide 41 against the upper end of spring 40. A pair of ears 45 and 46 are inwardly deformed to secure the stem guide 42 in this position. The upper end of stem guide 42 cooperates with a washer 47 staked to valve stem 34. Consequently, when valve stem 34 is axially depressed by a buttom 36, washer 47 reacts against stern guide 42, which in turn compresses spring 49.

For filling reservoir or tank 16 with liquid, a fill opening (not shown) is provided at the front of the iron and arranged so that liquid may be easily introduced when the iron is upended on its heel rest. This liquid inlet communicates with the tank through a passage 48 extending upwardly within the hollow handle of the iron. Liquid entering the tank, however, must flow through an opening in the upper portion of riser 26. This opening is uniquely controlled by a valve assembly operated by valve stem 34. The valve comprises a valve seat 49 which cooperates with a gasket 59 carried by bushing Sl, which is slidably mounted on the valve stem 34. Normally, this liquid fill valve is biased to a closed position by compression spring 46, as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, the spring biases stem guide 42 and stem washer 47 upwardly against a gasket 52 abutting bushing 5-1. When the valve stem 34 is moved to the position wherein orifice 8 is closed, gasket 59 and bushing 51 are no longer biased upwardly by the spring 40. Instead, a small compression spring 53 tends to move the inlet valve downwardly to an open position. However, since gasket 5% is positioned inside tank 16, any steam pressure existing within the tank tends to force the gasket tightly against valve seat 49, thus sealing the tank. Consequently, if push button 36 is depressed while steam pressure exists within the tank, gasket St) would remain closed until such time as the steam pressure within the tank decreases to a completely safe degree, whereupon spring 53 forces gasket Si open, allowing the tank to be filled. This fill valve arrangement does not form a part or" the present invention, but is claimed in the aforementioned Patent No. 3,041,757.

To insure that the air in the tank will be dissipated when it is desired to add liquid to the tank, there is provided a one-way check valve comprising a housing 55 and ball valve 56 to control an opening 5'7 in cover 12 leading to soleplate openings 21. During steaming operation of the iron, the ball 56 is forced by the steam pressure against the housing 55 to close the opening 57; but the ball is moved away from the opening by gravity and retained by the housing fingers 58 when theiron is up-ended on its heel rest to the fill position, upon which steam generation ceases. Thus, the opening :37 serves to vent air from the tank as water is added to the tank. it the tank is to be emptied by means of the fill valve of the inlet opening,

the opening 57 is controlled by ball valve 56 permits air I to enter the tank to replace the water flowing from the tank. This construction involving a vent valve 56-57 is disclosed in greater detail and claimed by Patent No. 3,045,370 issued to Harold S. Foster and assigned to General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. FIGS. 3-6 show various modifications of the combined self-cleaning valve and filter assembly of the invention. Since each of the modifications may be incorporated into an iron of the type shown in FIG. 1, or a similar iron, elements shown in FIGS. 3-6 which are common to elements of FIG. 1 will be g'ven the same numbers.

While the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 provides an excellent filter, it is possible that after continued usage, the apertures in the spring guide will become clogged with mineral particles or other deposits. This potential'problem is solved in the embodiment of FIG. 3 by adding a member adapted to clean the spring guide openings when the water valve is operated. As with the arrangement of PEG. 2, an apertured spring guide as carrying compression spring 4d is shown positioned within the upper end of valve body 9, surrounding valve stem 34. A spring compressor member 61, secured to valve stem 34, is slidably received within the upper end of spring guide lid and is adapted to receive the upper end of spring 49. In accordance with the invention, the compressor member 51 is provided with a plurality of slot cleaning fingers 62 to clean the apertures or slots formed in the spring guide so. Each finger is positioned within the upper end of a respective slot and extends downwardly within the plane or the spring guide terminating in a=radialiy extending tip portion. It will be appreciated that as the valve stem 34 is depressed, the fingers 62 move downwardly within 6 the spring guide openings to crush and break away any material which may have collected therein.

Although the clean out fingers 62 are preferably formed of very strong material, it may still be necessary to support the fingers to prevent lateral deflection in view of the slenderness of the fingers. For this purpose, there is provided a retaining cap 63 which fits over the upper end of the spring guide 66 surrounding the fingers of the compressor member. The retaining cap may be secured to the upper end of spring guide by means of suitable inwardly extending tabs 64.

With the spring 40 held within the spring guide by means of lugs 44, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, there is a space between the lower end of the spring and the guide. Although this space is relatively small, in that the spring fits snugly within the guide, it is possible that particles that have entered through the apertures in the guide may be able to slip through the space leading to the valve orifice, and thereby bypass the spring filtering action. To pre vent such an occurrence, there is provided a grommet or eyelet 65 having a cylindrical portion 65 which fits within spring 40 and a flange portion 67 which rests on the valve body beneath the lugs 44 of the spring guide and beneath the spring end. With this arrangement, any particles which may have entered through the spring guide apertures and slip downwardly between the spring and the guide will be prevented from passing beyond the spring into the valve orifice.

FIG. 4 shows an embodiment wherein a spring guide 7% is positioned within compression spring 4s. A tubular spring compression member 71 surrounds the upper end of the spring guide '70 to engage the upper end of spring 40. The upper end of the compressor member 71 is attached to a retaining member '72 secured to a reduced portion of the valve stem 34. The compressor member is formed with sufiicient axial length to accom modate the spring guide 7% when the compressor member is moved downwardly with the valve stem during operation of the valve.

FIG. 5 shows another arrangement of the self-cleaning valve and filter assembly wherein the spring guide '73 is positioned within the spring 40. To obtain greater cleaning action, the spring guide 73 is secured at its upper end to the valve stem 34 with the result that the spring guide moves with the valve stem while the spring is being axially compressed. To accommodate the movement of the spring guide, the lower end of the spring guide is normally positioned several turns above the lower end ofthe spring when the spring is in its position of minimum com ression, or in other words, when the valve stem is in its fully open position. When the valve stem is depressed, the spring guide moves downwardly adjacent the spring so that greater relative movement between the lower end of the spring and the guide is obtained than with the previous arrangements disclosed. Since liquid flows through the lower end of the filter even when the fiatiron liquid supply is low, it is particularly advantageous to obtain improved cleaning action in this area of the filter.

FIG. 6 illustrates a self-cleaning filter without a spring guide. With such an arrangement, it is necessary to utilize a spring 44} of such proportions of height, coil diameter, and wire size as to eliminate any tendency toward lateral deflection. Thin fiat particles which slip between the coils of the spring will normally be handled by the clean-out pin 35 positioned on the end. 7

Naturally, eliminating the spring of the valve stem 34. guide provides a particularly inexpensive filter arrangement.

While specific embodiments of this invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that numerous modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without actually departing from the invention. It is, therefore, intended in the appended claims to cover all such equivalent variations as comewithin the true spirit and scope .of the foregoing disclosure.

What I claim is:

1. In a fiatiron having a steam generator and a water tank, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of water from the tank into the steam generator comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting water to flow from the tank to the steam generator, a spring guide positioned within said tank with one end of the guide surrounding the entry to said orifice, said guide having a plurality of openings for permitting the passage of water therethrough, a coiled compression spring surrounding said orifice and positioned adjacent said spring guide, so that together the spring and the guide form a screen for filtering the water flowing through the valve orifice, and an axially movable valve stem centrally positioned within said spring and guide for controlling the flow of water through said valve orifice, said valve stem being biased by said spring so that the spring is axially flexed whenever the stem is axially moved, whereby the relative movement between adjacent coils of said springs and between the spring and the guide crushes and dislodges deposits which may have formed on the screen.

2. In an iron having a flash steam generator and a vvater tank, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of Water from the tank into the steam generator comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting water to flowfrom the tank to the steam generator, a hollow cylindrical guide member positioned within said tank with one end of the guide member supported by the valve body in concentric relation with respect to the valve orifice, said cylindrical guide member having a plurality of slots extending in a direction parallel to the cylindrical axis of the guide member, a tubular compression spring positioned immediately within said guide member, with the coils of the spring extending in a direction roughly perpendicular to said slots, so that together the spring and guide form a screen for filtering the water flowing through-the valve orifice, and an axially movable valve stem centrally positioned within said spring for controlling the flow of water through said valve orifice, said valve stem being connected to said spring in a manner such that the spring is axially flexed within the guide member whenever the stem is axially moved.

3. A self-cleaning valve and filter assembly for controlling the flow of water from a fiatiron water tank into a fiatiron steam generator positioned beneath the tank comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting water to flow from the tank to the steam genenator, a tubular spring guide positionedwithin said reservoir, with its lower end supported on the valve body and with the guide surrounding the valve orifice, said guide having 'a plurality of openings for permitting the passage of water therethrongh, a tubular shaped coil spring positioned immediately within said spring guide, the spring coils being axially spaced from each other, so that together the spring and guide form -a screen for filtering waterfiowing to the valve orifice, an axially movable valve stem centrally positioned within said spring for controlling the flow of water through said valve orifice, said valve stem being biased upwardly away from said valve orifice by the spring, manual means for moving the-stem to close the critics, whereby the resulting compression of the spring crushes and dislodges deposits which a may have formed on the filter screen.

4. In a fiatiron having a flash steam generator and a water supply tank, a valve assembly for cont-rolling the v fiow of water into the tank and the flow of Vwater from the tank into the generator, and a self-cleaning filter unit for filtering the water flowing into the steam generator comprising: a valve body having an outlet orifice therein for permitting Water to flow from the tank to the steam generator, a water tank inlet opening aligned with said cooperate with said outlet v-alve orifice for controlling the flow of Water therethrough, a valve member mounted on said valve stem for controlling the fiow of water through said tank inlet opening, a tubular compression spring surrounding said valve stem, with one end of the spring abutting said valve body and the other end of the spring cooperating with said valve stem to urge the stem into a position wherein said outlet orifice is open and said inlet opening is closed, a tubular spring guide surrounding said spring and having one end supported by said valve body, said spring guide having a plurality of openings for permitting the passage of Water therethrough, so that together the spring and the guide form a screen unit for filtering the Water flowing through the valve orifice, and a manually movable control member for axially moving said valve stem against the spring bias to close the outlet orifice and permit the inlet opening to be opened, where by the relative movement between the spring coils and between the spring and the guide crushes and loosens deposits which may have formed on the screen unit.

5. In a flatiron, a fiash steam generator, a water tank positioned above said generator, an inlet opening in said tank for adding water to the tank, an outlet opening for permitting water to flow from the tank to the steam generator, a valve stem for simultaneously controlling the flow of water through the tank inlet and outlet openings, a spring positioned within said tank surrounding the valve stem, with one end of the spring surrounding the outlet opening and the other end of the spring cooperating with the valve stem to urge the stem into a position wherein the inlet opening is closed and the outlet opening is open, said spring including a plurality of coils which are axially spaced so that the spring filters the flow of Water through said outlet opening, a tubular spring guide surrounding said spring to support the spring, said guide having a plurality of openings extending in a direction roughly perpendicular to the coils of said spring, so that together the spring and the guide form a filter unit for the water passing through said outlet opening, and manual means for axially moving said valve stem against the bias of said spring to open said tank inlet opening and close the tank outlet opening and simultaneously clean the filter unit by the movement of the spring.

6. In a flatiron having a steam generator and a water tank, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of Water from the tank into the steam generator comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting water to flow from the tank tothe steam generator, a tubular compression spring, an apertured tubular spring guide positioned immediately surrounding said spring, so that together thespring and the guide form a screen, said screen being positioned within said tank and supported by the valve body in concentric relation with respect to the valve orifice for filtering the water flowing through the valve orifice, an axially movable valve stem centrally positioned within said screen for controlling the flow of Water through said valve orifice, and a cleanout rod extending from the end of said valve stem for cleaning foreign material from said orifice whenever the valve stem is moved to prevent the flow of water through the orifice, said valve stem being biased by said spring so that the spring is axially flexed whenever the stem is axially moved, whereby the relative movement between the spring coils and between, the spring and the guide crushes and dislodges deposits which may have formed on the screen.

7. In a flatiron having a steam generator and a water tank, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of water from the tank into the steam generator comprisingr'a fixed valve member having an orifice therein for permitting water to flow from the tank to the steam generator, a spring guide having one end surrounding the entry of said orifice, said guide having a plurality of openlugs for permitting the passage of Water therethrough, a coiled compression spring surrounding said orifice and positioned adjacent said spring guide so that together the spring and the guide form a screen for filtering the water flowing through the valve orifice, said valve stem being biased by said spring so that the spring is axially flexed whenever the stem is axially moved whereby the relative movement between adjacent coils of said spring and between the spring and the guide crushes and dislodges deposits which may have formed on the screen, and means secured to said valve stem having a plurality of fingers for cooperating with the openings in said guide to clean material from the openings when said valve stem is axially moved.

8. In a fiatiron having a vapor generator and a liquid reservoir, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the vapor generator comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting limited flow of liquid into said generator, a valve stem cooperating with said valve body to control the liquid flow through said orifice, a compression spring biasing said valve member out of engagement with said valve body, a spring guide positioned immediately Within said spring to prevent lateral deflection of the spring while it is moved axially under compression, said spring and said spring guide being positioned with their lower ends surrounding said orifice, said spring having a plurality of turns with spacing between each turn and said spring guide having a plurality of apertures so that together the spring and the spring guide form a screen for filtering the flow of liquid into the vapor generator.

9. In an electrically heated pressing iron having a liquid reservoir and a vapor generator, at self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the vapor generator comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting restricted flow of water into the steam generator, a valve stem movable into and out of engagement with said valve body to control the liquid flow through said orifice, a compression spring biasing said valve member out of engagement with said valve body, an apertured spring guide surrounding said compression spring, said spring guide having one end supported by said valve body and surrounding said orifice whereby all liquid flowing through said orifice must first flow through the combination of the spring guide and the spring and a grommet cooperating with said one end of the spring guide and the spring to prevent the passage of particles between the valve body and said spring.

10. In an electrically heated pressing iron having a liquid reservoir and a vapor generator positioned to receive liquid from said reservoir, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the vapor generator, a valve body having an orifice therein for permitting liquid flow from the reservoir to the vapor generator, a spring guide having an end surrounding the entry to said orifice, said guide having a plurality of openings, a coil compression spring having an end surrounding the entry to said orifice and positioned adjacent said spring guide, an axially movable valve stem biased by said spring for controlling the flow of water through said valve orifice, spring compression means carried by said valve stem and engaging said spring so that the spring is axially compressed when the valve stem is axially moved, and a plurality of fingers formed on said spring compression means for cleaning material from the openings in said guide.

11. In a flatiron having a vapor generator and a liquid reservoir, a self-cleaning valve and filter assembly controlling the flow of liquid from the reservoir into the vapor generator comprising: a valve body having an orifice therein permitting liquid flow into said generator, a valve stem movable into and out of engagement with said valve body to control the liquid flow through said orifice, a compression spring biasing said valve stem out of engagement with said valve body, said spring having one end thereof in engagement with said valve body whereby all liquid flowing through said orifice must first flow between adjacent turns of said spring, a spring guide carried by said valve stem and positioned adjacent said spring, said spring guide having a plurality of openings for permitting passage of water therethrough so that together the spring and the guide form a screen for filtering the water flowing through the valve orifice, said spring guide being spaced from said valve body when the spring is in its position of least compression to thus permit movement of said valve stem and spring guide towards said valve body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,742,721 4/56 Kircher 38-77 2,853,815 9/58 Parr 3877 2,892,272 6/59 Finlayson et a1. 3877 2,991,572 7/61 Swenson 3877 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner. DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. IN A FLATIRON HAVING A STEAM GENERATOR AND A WATER TANK, A SELF-CLEANING VALVE AND FILTER ASSEMBLY CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF WATER FROM THE TANK INTO THE STEAM GENERATOR COMPRISING: A VALVE BODY HAVING AN ORIFICE THEREIN FOR PERMITTING WATER TO FLOW FROM THE TANK TO THE STEAM GENERATOR, A SPRING GUIDE POSITIONED WITHIN SAID TANK WITH ONE END OF THE GUIDE SURROUNDING THE ENTRY TO SAID ORIFICE, SAID GUIDE HAVING A PLURALITY OF OPENINGS FOR PERMITTING THE PASSAGE OF WATER THERETHROUGH, A COILED COMPRESSION SPRING SURROUNDING SAID ORIFICE AND POSITIONED ADJACENT SAID SPRING GUIDE, SO THAT TOGETHER THE SPRING AND THE GUIDE FROM A SCREEN FOR FILTERING THE WATER FLOWING THROUGH THE VALVE ORIFICE, AND AN AXIALLY MOVABLE VALVE STEM CENTRALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID SPRING AND GUIDE FOR CONTROLLING THE FLOW OF WATER THROUGH SAID VALVE ORIFICE, SAID VALVE STEM BEING BIASED BY SAID SPRING SO THAT THE SPRING IS AXIALLY FLEXED WHENEVER THE STEM IS AXIALLY MOVED, WHEREBY THE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT COILS OF SAID SPRINGS AND BETWEEN THE SPRING AND THE GUIDE CRUSHES AND DISLODGES DEPOSITS WHICH MAY HAVE FORMED ON THE SCREEN. 